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Author
Topic: HELP/ADVICE POSSIBLE RELOCATION (Read 936 times)

I am a Brit, live in London, not currently on meds, diagnosed positive 2.5 years ago; though I am due to start treatment in the next 6 months..

I have just been offered a job in NYC which is a fantastic opportunity and one that I need to decide on quite quickly. It would be a relocation from the UK to the USA and my work visa sponsored/provided. However my major concern is obviously my healthcare and treatment options and how my HIV will affect me/could affect this position.

I understand the company does have Health Insurance though I am not sure who the health care provider is.. As I would only be on a Visa I am not sure how this impedes on the programs the US offers for HIV or insurance? I really want to take this job but my health obviously has to be my main priority so I need to work out what options I would have; also without having to be out of pocket or spending a fortune on treatment!

I would assume this is a multi-national corporation and would fully provide you with private insurance, so all you will need to do is locate a proper doctor once you arrive. Your prescriptions and medical services, laboratory work etc. would all be comprehensively covered, though there may be co-payments for various things and an annual deductible for services. You should contact the Human Resources department of your company's US office and ask how it works, there's no way for us to answer something like this. You don't need to specify that you have a chronic medical condition or what it is -- just inquire what happens when you go to a doctor and/or have a prescription filled and make sure they are specific about deductibles and copayments, then come back to this thread and tell us what they said.

You can then make the choice to see a private infectious disease doctor or go to one of the more comprehensive HIV clinics in the city. There's also GMHC www.gmhc.org once you arrive that can answer more specific questions if you should need a case manager.

I would say most likely, without further information, you will be fully provided for and should not hesitate to take this assignment. It will be fun!

In the US it is standard to ask about the insurance coverage when negotiating employment. I would recommend asking who the insurance company is and for a copy of the insurance plan documents (which will likely be a PDF or link). The plan docs will specify how much of a copay you have for various services; which doctors are in the their network, etc.; if vision and/or dental are covered (dental is very often not covered unless it is a large corp or government position). Anyway, you will not raise any alarms by asking for some details on the insurance coverage.